Ultra wideband antenna including multiple individual antennas and multiplexing after antenna feed

Abstract

An ultra wide band (UWB) antenna includes: a first antenna; a second antenna including an aperture, where the first antenna is disposed within the aperture; a distribution portion configured electrically connect directly to a feed conductor; and filters electrically connecting the distribution portion to the second antenna, where the first antenna is electrically connected to the distribution portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ultra wide band (UWB) antenna, comprising:
 a first antenna;   a second antenna including an aperture,   wherein the first antenna is disposed within the aperture;   a distribution portion configured to electrically connect directly to a feed conductor;   first filters electrically connecting the distribution portion to the second antenna,   wherein the first antenna is electrically connected to the distribution portion; and   second filters electrically connecting the distribution portion to the first antenna.   
     
     
         2 . The UWB antenna of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first antenna has a first predetermined frequency range; 
 the second antenna has a second predetermined frequency range; and 
 the first and second predetermined frequency ranges one of overlap, partially overlap, and do not overlap. 
 
     
     
         3 . The UWB antenna of  claim 1  wherein the first antenna, the second antenna, and the distribution portion are made of electrically conductive material. 
     
     
         4 . The UWB antenna of  claim 1  wherein a first distance between (a) a first location where the feed conductor electrically connects to the distribution portion and (b) a second location of a first one of the first filters is equal to a second distance between (c) the first location and (d) a third location of a second one of the first filters. 
     
     
         5 . The UWB antenna of  claim 1  wherein the first filters each include at least one of an inductor and a capacitor. 
     
     
         6 . The UWB antenna of  claim 1  wherein the first filters are one of low pass filters (LPFs), high pass filters (HPFs), band pass filters, and band stop filters. 
     
     
         7 . The UWB antenna of  claim 1  wherein the second filters are one of low pass filters (LPFs), high pass filters (HPFs), band pass filters, and band stop filters. 
     
     
         8 . The UWB antenna of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first antenna includes a first connecting portion configured to directly contact and electrically connect to a ground plane; and 
 the second antenna includes a second connecting portion configured to directly contact and electrically connect to the ground plane. 
 
     
     
         9 . The UWB antenna of  claim 1  wherein the second antenna includes a side portion that extends from cap portions of the second antenna toward a ground plane. 
     
     
         10 . The UWB antenna of  claim 9  wherein a gap between (a) a lower edge of the side portion and (b) the ground plane increases moving away from the first filters and toward a connecting portion of the second antenna that directly contacts and is electrically connected to the ground plane. 
     
     
         11 . The UWB antenna of  claim 10  wherein the gap increases monotonically moving away from the first filters and toward the connecting portion of the second antenna. 
     
     
         12 . The UWB antenna of  claim 10  wherein a height of the side portion varies between the first filters and the connecting portion. 
     
     
         13 . The UWB antenna of  claim 9  wherein the side portion extends perpendicular to the ground plane. 
     
     
         14 . The UWB antenna of  claim 1  wherein the first and second antennas are symmetrical about a line between (a) a first location where the feed conductor electrically connects to the distribution portion and (b) centers of connecting portions of the first and second antennas that directly contact and electrically connect the first and second antennas to a ground plane. 
     
     
         15 . The UWB antenna of  claim 1  wherein the first and second antennas are flat plane antennas and are entirely disposed on one of (a) the same plane and (b) parallel planes. 
     
     
         16 . The UWB antenna of  claim 1  wherein the first filters each include:
 a first filter portion that is electrically connected between an end of the distribution portion and a node; 
 a second filter portion that is electrically connected between the node and a ground plane; and 
 a third filter portion that is electrically connected between the node and an end of the second antenna. 
 
     
     
         17 . The UWB antenna of  claim 1  wherein the first filters each include:
 a first filter portion that is electrically connected between a first node and a ground plane, 
 wherein the first node is electrically connected to an end of the distribution portion; 
 a second filter portion that is electrically connected between the first node and a second node, 
 wherein the second node is electrically connected to an end of the second antenna; and 
 a third filter portion that is electrically connected between the second node and the ground plane. 
 
     
     
         18 . A vehicle comprising the UWB antenna of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . An ultra wide band (UWB) antenna, comprising:
 a first antenna;   a second antenna including an aperture,   wherein the first antenna is disposed within the aperture;   a distribution portion configured to electrically connect directly to a feed conductor; and   filters electrically connecting the distribution portion to the second antenna,   wherein the first antenna is electrically connected to the distribution portion, and   wherein the second antenna includes a tapered portion that extends inwardly from the aperture toward the first antenna at an angle that is non-perpendicular to a ground plane.   
     
     
         20 . An ultra wide band (UWB) antenna, comprising:
 a first antenna;   a second antenna including an aperture,   wherein the first antenna is disposed within the aperture;   a distribution portion configured to electrically connect directly to a feed conductor; and   filters electrically connecting the distribution portion to the second antenna,   wherein the first antenna is electrically connected to the distribution portion, and   wherein a first distance between (a) a first location where the feed conductor electrically connects to the distribution portion and (b) a second location of a first one of the filters is equal to a second distance between (c) the first location and (d) a third location of a second one of the filters.